How do you create safe, realistic medications for simulation without breaking the bank? This article uncovers the practical magic behind fake pharma—smart, sustainable solutions that protect learners, equipment, and budgets. Discover how one simulation center turned everyday materials into high-impact training tools.
A SIMZINE exclusive based on the SIMShot webinar hosted by Álvaro Trampal Ramos featuring Isaac Molinero Jaén
Welcome to the second episode of SimShot, the bite-sized videocast series from SIMZINE that dives deep into practical topics for simulation educators—fast, focused, and always insightful. This time, our host Álvaro Trampal Ramos, an advanced clinical simulation instructor, sits down with Isaac Molinero Jaén, Simulation Operations Technician at Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu. The topic? One of the most persistent challenges in clinical simulation: creating effective, realistic, and sustainable fake pharmaceuticals—what many in the field now call Fake Pharma.
From Hospital Cabinets to Simulation Classrooms: A Shift in Perspective
Isaac opens the episode with a crucial observation from his own transition from clinical to educational settings. In the hospital, access to medications was tightly controlled—locked in cabinets, handled only by authorized personnel. Fast forward to simulation labs, and those same medications, often expired but real, are freely accessible to students and staff. This disparity immediately raised red flags for Isaac and his team.
“The first reason we switched to fake meds was safety,” Isaac explains. Expired or not, having real medications around—accessible to inexperienced users in an educational context—is a liability. It introduces a tangible risk of misuse, error, or even accident.
From there, the team at Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu began developing and refining a low-cost, DIY approach to fake medications. What started as a safety precaution has grown into a robust, replicable system with added benefits in sustainability, flexibility, and educational fidelity.
Fake Meds, Real Benefits
Isaac outlines four key reasons simulation centers should consider adopting fake pharmaceuticals:
- 🛡️ Safety First
Using real, expired medications—often donated by hospitals—might seem convenient, but it introduces real risk. Even with trained participants, human error is always a possibility. Fake meds eliminate this entirely. - 🌱 Sustainability
Real medications often come with single-use packaging and limited shelf life. In contrast, the simulated versions can be reused, refilled, and repurposed. Some of Isaac’s vials have been in rotation as long as he’s worked at the center. - 🧼 Equipment Preservation
Real meds can corrode or clog simulator circuits, especially injectable agents. The fake versions—carefully formulated with cleanable ingredients like water and food-grade powder—are simulator-friendly and easy to wash off. - 🔄 Flexibility & Independence
Ever had a scenario fully set, only to realize you’re missing one medication? With fake pharma, just print a new label, fill a vial, and you’re back in action—no need to wait for pharmacy orders or approval chains.
The DIY Toolbox: What You’ll Need
Isaac doesn’t just talk theory—he walks us through the hands-on process, covering every component:
- Vials: Usually 10 or 20ml glass bottles with 20mm openings. They’re reusable and easy to source online.
- Stoppers: Silicone or rubber vial stoppers that form a seal once inserted.
- Caps: Aluminum caps or reusable capsules that secure the stopper in place. A manual capping tool—called a “capsuladora”—does the trick.
- Syringes: 10–60ml syringes for filling vials accurately.
- Water: Distilled water only! Isaac explains how saline and tap water can crystallize or corrode simulators—something they proved with a simple side-by-side experiment.
For the powder vials, you can use safe, dry fillers like fine salt, powdered milk, or cornstarch. Want to simulate doxycycline or amoxicillin? Add a dash of food coloring for realism.
The Process: Liquid and Powder Vials
Creating liquid vials is simple:
- Fill a clean vial with 5ml of distilled water.
- Insert the stopper.
- Use the capsule press to seal it with a cap.
- Label it with all the relevant info: name, dosage, administration method, and safety warnings.
Powder vials follow the same method, but instead of water, you add your powdered filler. Pro tip: use a custom “M”-shaped stopper to aid dilution during scenarios. Isaac favors salt because it dissolves easily and mimics the look of many powdered medications.
The Finishing Touch: Labels
What’s a medication without a label?
Isaac’s team uses Canva to design clear, consistent labels. Every label includes:
- Medication name
- Dosage/concentration
- Route of administration
- Clear warnings: For training use only. Not for human or animal use.
You can add expiration dates, logos, batch numbers—whatever suits your program. The key is to prepare templates in advance so they’re ready when needed. Print them on A4 adhesive paper and you’re set.
Bonus Tip: Chewable Simulations
What about pills? Especially when working with standardized patients, handing out candy doesn’t always cut it—literally.
Isaac shares a simple DIY pill recipe that gives more control over ingredients and realism:
- 7g powdered milk
- 4g sugar
- 2ml water
- Food coloring as needed
Mix into a dough, press into a blister mold (even an old paracetamol pack will do), and voilà! Custom, edible tablets ready for the next role-play.
Recap and Takeaways
Isaac’s presentation is more than a technical tutorial—it’s a call to rethink how we approach medication in simulation-based education. His fake pharma methodology is:
- Safe for learners and staff
- Sustainable for both budget and environment
- Simulator-friendly, reducing wear and maintenance
- Adaptable, allowing last-minute changes or new scenario setups
- Accessible, relying on basic tools and low-cost ingredients
As Álvaro notes at the end of the episode, this is one of the biggest issues in clinical simulation today—and now we have actionable, affordable ways to address it.
Final Words
In just 20 minutes, Sim Shot delivers a clinic in creative simulation problem-solving. Isaac’s passion, experience, and willingness to share practical know-how make this episode an essential watch (or listen) for simulation techs, educators, and even faculty starting their own low-cost simulation labs.And remember: when it comes to medication in simulation, fake is the new real.
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